SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS: UMass Lowell 4-4-0/1-2-0 after a weekend split against Maine at the Alfond Arena. The River Hawks were picked for seventh place finish by Hockey East Coaches and was placed sixth in the Media Poll. Sam Knoblauch leads the team in both goals, with four, and points with six. Nine different players have scored goals, six have scored more than once. Tyler Wall has started in five of the team's eight games and has a 2.01 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. Both Wall and Christoffer Hernberg have thrown shutouts. Ryan Lohin is the team's top returning scorer after putting up 25-points (9g, 16a) a year ago.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS:  New Hampshire is 1-4-1/1-1-0 after Saturday's 5-1 loss to Massachusetts in Durham. The Wildcats are 1-1-0 at home and 0-3-1 on the road. New Hampshire was picked for a ninth place finish in the Hockey East Coaches' Pre-Season Poll and tenth in the Media Poll. Ten players have scored goals, Marcus Vela and Jackson Pierson have two apiece. Max Gildon leads the team with six-points. Mike Robinson has started four of the team's six games in nets. He has a 2.67 goals against average and a .902 save percentage. Mike Souza is in his first year as the Head Coach at UNH.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE: This is the 122nd meeting between the two schools in a series that dates back to 1983. UNH leads the series 62-44-15, but UML has won twelve of the last sixteen, including four by shutout. A year ago, New Hampshire won the regular season series two-games-to-one. The two teams have met on numerous occasions in the post-season. UMass Lowell holds an 8-6-0 edge in HEA Tournament play including a 4-0 shutout to earn the 2014 title. The River Hawks also defeated UNH 2-0, in Manchester, to win the NCAA Northeast Regional final and advance to the Frozen Four in 2013.
LAST SEASON VS. UNH: New Hampshire swept a season opening weekend series from the River Hawks 4-3 and 3-1. UMass Lowell notched a 2-1 win a month later on the strength of two Ryan Lohin goals. Lohin had a hand in five of UMass Lowell's six goals against New Hampshire during the three games. Christoffer Hernberg was in the nets for the win, Tyler Wall had played in the first two games between the clubs. Â
A WIN TONIGHT WOULD...: ...move UMass Lowell over the .500 mark and even the hockey club's record in Hockey East play. The River Hawks have split their first four weekend series.
MILITARY APPRECIATION: It's Military Appreciation Night. In advance of Veteran's Day on Sunday UMass Lowell will honor those who served in the armed services throughout Friday night's game against New Hampshire. A ceremonial puck drop is planned to start the night and veterans from each branch of the military will be recognized during the evening.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: These two teams have played each other in nine different buildings, the second greatest number of venues for UMass Lowell against any one opponent. UMass Lowell and UNH have faced off at Tully Forum (Billerica, MA), Snively Arena (Durham, NH), Boston Garden (Boston, MA), JFK Coliseum (Manchester, NH), Alfond Arena (Orono, ME), Whittemore Center (Durham, NH), Tsongas Center (Lowell, MA), Fleet Center/TD Garden (Boston, MA) and the Verizon Wireless Arena (Manchester, NH.) UMass Lowell has also played Maine and Boston College in nine different buildings, but Clarkson tops the list with ten different venues.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND: UMass Lowell and Maine split a pair of games played in the Alfond Arena in Orono. The hosts won the series opener, 4-3.  The difference in the game was the second period. The Black Bears scored four unanswered goals in the second period to erase a 2-0 UMass Lowell lead. Chase Pearson scored twice to even the game and Maine added a pair of power play goals. UMass Lowell got goals from Chase Blackmun, Sam Knoblauch and Lucas Condotta. The River Hawks got only one goal Saturday night, but Knoblauch's third period marker was enough as Christoffer Hernberg made 24 saves in a 1-0 victory.
ROOKIE HONORS: UMass Lowell freshman Sam Knoblauch was named the Hockey East rookie of the Week after scoring two-goals and adding an assist in two weekend games against Maine. He scored the only goal in the River Hawks 1-0 win on Saturday.
WHEN ONE IS ENOUGH: When UMass Lowell defeated Maine, 1-0, November 3, 2018 it was the 13th time in school history and the seventh time in as many years that the River Hawks had won a 1-0 game. It was the seventh 1-0 win since Norm Bazin took over the program in 2011-12.
Date                         Opponent                                                  Goalie/Svs.               Goal Scorer
Feb. 12, 1977         vs. Williams                                            Doyle, 29 svs.                      Yeadon
Nov. 10, 2001        at New Hampshire                     McCormick, 30 svs.                       Strome
Nov. 16, 2001        vs. UMass Amherst                     McCormick, 24 svs.                    McGrane
Jan. 4, 2004           at UMass Amherst                         Davidson, 27 svs.                        Godoy
Feb. 8, 2007          vs. Northeastern                             Hamilton, 10 svs.                         Kinley
Feb. 21, 2009         at Vermont                                          Hutton, 21 svs.            Worthington
Mar. 23, 2013        vs. Boston University                  Hellebuyck, 36 svs.                        Arnold
Nov. 22, 2013        vs. Notre Dame                            Hellebuyck, 40 svs.                           Buco
Feb. 28, 2014         at Vermont, OT                           Hellebuyck, 25 svs.                          Houk
Nov. 7, 2015           at Vermont                                             Boyle, 32 svs.                        Chapie
Jan. 8, 2016            at New Hampshire                                Boyle, 27 svs.                         Collins
Nov. 18, 2017        at UConn                                         Hernberg, 33 svs.                        Wilson
Nov. 3, 2018           at Maine                                          Hernberg, 24 svs.                Knoblauch
SLAMMING THE DOOR SHUT, AGAIN: Last Saturday's 1-0 win at Maine was the team's second shutout this season, the first for goalie Christoffer Hernberg this season and the sixth of his career. It was his second career 1-0 win; the first came at UConn in November 2017. It was also the 100th shutout in program history. Connor Hellebuyck is the career shutout leader with 12.Â
HOCKEY EAST WIN #1: UMass Lowell picked up its first Hockey East conference win of the season last Saturday with a 1-0 win at Maine. It puts the River Hawks ahead of last year's pace. A year ago that first league win came against Maine in the River Hawks fifth conference game. That was the longest conference opening winless streak since Norm Bazin took over behind the River Hawk bench in 2011-12. It was the longest wait for the first league win since the 2004-05 season when they lost five in a row to start the Hockey East season and after two ties picked up their first Hockey East win in their eighth league game.
YOUTH MOVEMENT: The UMass Lowell freshmen class has been key to the River Hawk offense. The group, with eight-goals and 15-points, is the top scoring of the four classes. In fact, the last five River Hawk goals have been scored by freshmen. The class leads Hockey East in goals and is third in points.
A CHILD SHALL LEAD:  UMass Lowell freshmen Sam Knoblauch leads the River Hawks in scoring with four-goals and six-points. The four goals are the most by any Hockey East freshman and Knoblauch is one of just two Hockey East freshmen to lead their teams in scoring. Jachym Kindelik leads UConn with ten-points, all assists.
HOME SWEET HOME: UMass Lowell is 83-37-12 (a .674 winning percentage) at the Tsongas Center since Norm Bazin took over behind the bench for the 2011-12 season. In 2017-18 the River Hawks were 10-8-0 on home ice. They are 1-2-0 this season. The last time the River Hawks had a losing record at home was 2010-11 when the home team went 4-12-0.
HOME COOKING: River Hawk seniors Ryan Dmowski and Connor Wilson have flourished at home in the early going. Dmowski has scored four of his five points in front of the Tsongas Center faithful. Wilson has three of his five points at home.
ON THE ROAD: UMass Lowell is 88-54-9, a .613 winning percentage when playing away from the Tsongas Center in the seven-plus years that Norm Bazin has led the program. That .613 winning percentage is the fourth best in the nation during that period.   The River Hawks are 64-42-8, .593, as the road team and 24-11-1, .681, in games played at a neutral site.
ROAD WARRIORS: Several River Hawks appear to feel right at home when they are on the road. Sam Knoblauch has scored five (3g, 2a) of his six points this season on the road. Nick Master has scored three (2g, 1a) of four on the road and Lucas Condotta has scored his three-points (2g, 1a) in enemy buildings.Â
BLACKMUN FOR THE DEFENSE: Chase Blackmun became the first UMass Lowell defenseman to score a goal this season when he found the back of the net last night in the first period against Maine. The River Hawk defense corps has a goal and ten-assists through seven games. A year ago the UMass Lowell defensemen were among the highest scoring in the nation with 26-goals and 89-points. Among Hockey East teams this season only UConn and Boston College have fewer goals.
GETTING THE FIRST ONE: Four UMass Lowell players have already notched their first collegiate goal during the 2018-19 season. For two players first-goals came in the second game of the season against RIT. Forward Sam Knoblauch found the back of the net at the 17:51 mark of the first period to give UMass Lowell a 2-0 lead. Forward Reid Stefanson tied the game at four with a minute and 14-seconds remaining in the third period. Lucas Condotta picked up his first collegiate goal last Saturday to close out the scoring in the 4-2 win at Bentley. Chase Blackmun put his name on the scoresheet last night against Maine. Here's a list of career first goals during this season.
 Player         GM#     Date    Opponent    When                   Assists           Score            Goalie
 Knoblauch    2     10/13/18      R I T       17:51 1st       Wilson, Evingson   2-0           Drackett
 Stefanson      2     10/13/18      R I T       18:46 3rd     Barton, Goransson  4-4           Drackett
 Condotta       6     10/27/18   Bentley    17:51 3rd        Master, Baxter      3-2               Pelino
 Blackmun      3     11/ 2/18     Maine      4:32 1st             Knoblauch         1-0         Swayman
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: UMass Lowell forward Connor Wilson leads the team with three-goals and five-points in eight games. A year ago Wilson did not get his third goal or fifth point until the 14th game of the season. Nick Master and Charlie Levesque are also three-points ahead of last year's pace.
CARRYING THE WEIGHT: UMass Lowell is the second biggest team in the country based on average weight. The River Hawks tip the scales at an average 193.83-pounds. Only Hockey East rival UConn is heavier averaging 194.23-pounds.
THE CENTURY CLUB: Three members of the UMass Lowell roster have played more than 100 games in their collegiate careers. Nick Master leads the group with 121 games in a River Hawk uniform. Connor Wilson (106) and Ryan Dmowski (103) are the remaining members of the group. Next on the list are Ryan Lohin (81), Mattias Göransson (80) and Colin O'Neill (79). A year ago UMass Lowell had six players on the roster with more than 100 games played in their collegiate careers.Â
NEXT WEEKEND: Hockey East conference action will continue next weekend as UMass Lowell and UConn will meet for a pair of games. Friday night the two will meet at the XL Center in Hartford, Saturday afternoon (5:00 p.m.) they will wrap up the weekend series at the Tsongas Center. UMass Lowell leads the all-time series 22-10-2. The River Hawks swept the series a year ago with 5-2 and 1-0 wins.
WALLING OFF THE NETS: UMass Lowell goalie Tyler Wall made 36 saves in turning in his fourth career shutout October 19th against Miami. The 36 saves were the third most Wall has made in a game and the most he's recorded in a shutout. Wall had 40 saves in a tie against Minnesota Duluth on October 8, 2016 and 38 in a victory against Boston College in the Hockey East Championship Game, March 18, 2017. The performance was his seventh 30-plus save game of his career.
THE WALL WALL:  When Miami scored a goal at 1:05 of the third period October 27th it ended a shutout streak of 122:24 for UMass Lowell goalie Tyler Wall. The streak which included a 36-save 3-0 shutout of Miami the night before was the longest of Wall's career.
BACK-TO-BACK: This is the fifth of 15 "back-to-back" series that UMass Lowell will play this year. A week ago the River Hawks split a pair of games with Maine, losing 4-3 in the opener, but shutting out the Black Bears the following night, 1-0. UMass Lowell is 2-2-0 after four first night and 2-2-0 on the second after four weekend splits. The River Hawks played back-to-back games on 17 weekends during the 2017-18 season. UML had four sweeps to its credit, eight splits and also were swept five times. UML was 10-7-0 on the first night, 5-12-0 on the second. In 2016-17 the River Hawks were 11-6-1/11-5-2. UMass Lowell authored seven sweeps and were swept just twice.
PROTECTING THE LEAD: Since Norm Bazin took over the coaching reins at UMass Lowell, the River Hawks are 129-8-9 when leading after two-periods. They are also 31-20-9 when the score is tied after two periods. The River Hawks were 12-2-0 when leading after two periods during the 2017-18 season and were 22-1-2 when leading after two periods two years ago.
BY THE CLOSEST OF MARGINS: UMass Lowell is 53-40-21, .557, in one-goal games since the 2011-12 season. The team is 2-3-0 this year in one-goal games. The River Hawks played 12 one-goal games a year ago. The results were split down the middle 6-6-0.Â
THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER: When UMass Lowell scores three or more goals in a game it is 144-22-6, .855 during the last seven-plus years. The River Hawks were 15-4-0, last season, and were 25-3-1 two years ago. When scoring two goals or less in a game the River Hawks are 27-68-15, .314, since 2011-12.
NOT FIT TO BE TIED:  UMass Lowell was the only team in the country without a tie during the 2017-18 season. It was only the second time in their 35-year Division I history that the team has completed a full season without at least one tie. It has been 69 games since UML and UConn battled to a 2-2 tie on December 3, 2016. Only once before have the River Hawks played a full season without a tie. That was 1998-99 when the River Hawks went 17-17-0. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, as a Division II program, ULowell went more than five seasons, 177 games, without a tie.
A GOOD START: UMass Lowell has allowed just two first period goals eight games into the season. Only one team that has played five or more games this year has allowed fewer goals in the opening period. Providence has not allowed a first period goal. Clarkson and Quinnipiac, like UMass Lowell, have allowed just two-goals in seven or more first periods. The River Hawks have outscored opponents 5-2 in the first period.
THE FINAL THIRD: Eight games into a new season and the River Hawks have outscored their opponents nine-goals to six in the third period of play. That continues a trend seen a year ago. UMass Lowell outscored opponents by 15-goals in the third period during the 2017-18 season. That was the sixth highest goal differential in the country.
92 AND COUNTING: UMass Lowell's visit last Saturday to the Bentley Arena, a building that opened for business during the 2017-18 season, pushed the number of buildings in which UMass Lowell has played hockey to at least 92. The long list includes stops stretching from Alaska to Belfast, Northern Ireland and from Arizona to Maine.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT:  UMass Lowell's 2-1 come-from-behind win on October 12th was the first time they had won a game in which they had trailed after two-periods since beating Vermont 3-2, in overtime, on January 19, 2018. The River Hawks were 3-14-0 last year in games in which they trailed after two-periods.
WHEN TWO IS ENOUGH:  UMass Lowell has won games twice when scoring fewer than two-goals. That is something the River Hawks had not done recently and rarely did a year ago. The hockey club defeated R I T, 2-1, on October 12th and beat Maine, 1-0, on November 3rd. UMass Lowell is 2-2-0 this season when scoring two-goals or fewer, they were 2-14-0 a year ago.Â
HERNBERG WATCH: UMass Lowell netmninder Christoffer Hernberg is one of twenty goalies named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List. The award honors the nation's most outstanding goalie. The winner is selected by a committee of coaches, scouts and members of the media. Hernberg posted a 2.08 goals against average and a .921 save percentage during the 2017-18 season. UMass Lowell goalie Connor Hellebuyck won the first Mike Richter Award in 2014.
THE 2019 SENIOR CLASS: The six-member UMass Lowell senior class has accumulated a record of 72-44-8, a .613 winning percentage. The class ranks second in Hockey East in wins and third in winning percentage. The class which includes forwards Ryan Dmowski, Connor Wilson, Nick Master and Keith Burchett and defenseman Avni Berisha and goalie Christoffer Hernberg has won one HEA regular season title, a tournament championship, four in-season tournaments and made two appearances in the NCAA tournament. The class ranks fifth among UML teams. The 2016 senior class tops the list with 100 victories.
FRESH FACES: The River Hawk recruiting class of 13 is the largest in the country and the second largest during the Norm Bazin era. Walk on Derek Osik earned a spot on the roster during the pre-season tryouts. UConn, Niagara and Quinnipiac also have 12 freshmen on the roster. Bazin's largest freshman class was during the 2014-15 season when UMass Lowell welcomed 14 freshmen. A year ago the freshmen class numbered just a half dozen.
POINTS OF ORIGIN: The 2018-19 UMass Lowell hockey roster is made up of players from four countries, 11 states and five Canadian provinces. Massachusetts, Michigan and Pennsylvania top the list of states with three players each calling those states "home." Five players are from the Province of Ontario.  Â
BORN TO PLAY THE GAME: River Hawk freshman Michael Dill is from Windsor, Nova Scotia. It is Windsor, Nova Scotia which claims to be the birthplace of ice hockey. The game evolved on the lakes and ponds in the Windsor area from "ice hurley", an ice version of the Irish sport of hurling.
GOOD BLOODLINES: Defenseman Nolan Sawchuk has an NHL Hall of Fame connection. His Great Great Uncle was goaltender Terry Sawchuk who played for five NHL teams during a 21-year career. The Hall of Fame goalie won three Stanley Cups with Detroit and one with Toronto.
STRIPES IN THE BLOOD: Freshman forward Austin O'Rourke has an NHL connection of a different kind. His father Dan O'Rourke is a National Hockey League referee, who has worked three Stanley Cup Finals series (2011, 2012, 2016) and has worked over 1,000 career games in the NHL.
SEEN IT ALL AND COUNTING: UMass Lowell Head Athletic Trainer Artie Poitras is the longest serving hockey athletic trainer with one team and the second longest serving in the country. Poitras has been on the bench, in his role as athletic trainer, for 37 years since starting his UMass Lowell career in 1981. He has been witness to a National Championship, three Hockey East Tournament Titles and ten NCAA Tournament visits. The athletic trainer has worked 1,388 games including 1,321 Division I games. He has missed only one game. Poitras is working on a consecutive games streak that has now reached 912. He is the only trainer in College Hockey to work games at both Northern Arizona and Arizona State.
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